Happy New Year!

The year is almost over, so we wanted to ask what was memorable about 2010 for you, and what are you looking forward to in 2011? Do you have a new year's resolution, or any exciting plans for the coming year?

Have a safe and happy New Year, from Dr. Roth & team!

Who benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Dr. Roth will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment, whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how orthodontics will transform your smile, as well as your life!

Cold and Flu Season is Here - Replace Your Toothbrush!

Fall is upon us, and with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. After recovering from your cold, Dr. Roth will tell you one of the most important steps you can take to avoid becoming reinfected is replacing your toothbrush!

Germs are known to linger on the bristles, and you risk prolonging your sickness by continuing to use the same toothbrush. Be smart - keep a spare, just in case! To protect your toothbrush from bacteria all year long, consider the following tips:

• Wash your hands before and after brushing
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use, harmful bacteria dies after being exposed to oxygen
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to call us if you have any questions or ask us on Facebook.

Dr. Roth and Team Head to NYC!

This past Wednesday I enjoyed a wonderful DAY OFF with my staff! We joined the Montgomery Bucks Dental Society on a trip to New York City to see the Rockettes perform at Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas show. The performance was amazing and we couldn’t help but notice that every dancer had a beautiful smile! After the show we watched the ice skaters in Rockefeller Center, followed by window shopping on Fifth Avenue and a gourmet Italian lunch at Scarlatto Restaurant.

Dr. Roth and Continuing Education

Dr. Roth believes in the invaluable educational role organized dentistry provides for professionals. Dr. Roth serves as President of the Greater Philadelphia Society of Orthodontists, which sponsors continuing education classes for orthodontists in the tri-state area. He is also involved with the Montgomery Bucks Dental Society and serves as its Membership Chairman.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Roth and team would like to wish you a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy a day filled of friends, family, and great thanksgiving food! What are you most thankful for this year? Leave us a comment, or if you have any stories or pictures to share with us, we encourage you to share them on our Facebook page!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Smile, and you might just live longer!

Folks with big smiles may actually live longer than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. We have known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos lived to be an average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting Dr. Roth & Team? If not, give us a call!

Dr. Roth's Involvement with the Greater Philadelphia Society of Orthodontists

Dr. Michael Roth has just been installed for a one-year term as President of the Greater Philadelphia Society of Orthodontics. Now in its 65th year, the society’s mission is to advance the art and science of orthodontics in Philadelphia’s tri-state area through continuing education programs for its members.

Dr. Roth continues his duties as Membership Chairman of the Montgomery-Bucks Dental Society and as an active member of the teaching staff at Albert Einstein Medical Center’s Department of Dental Medicine/Orthodontic Residency Program. He is also a member of the staff of the Department of Dental Medicine at Abington Memorial Hospital.

Access your account—any day, any time

Access to your account, 24/7. Sounds simple and convenient, doesn’t it?

Patients at our office enjoy access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website. You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, all from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

You, too, may sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

What do you enjoy most about fall?

It’s fall here at the orthodontic office of Dr. Roth, a time when all across the country, the leaves begin to change colors, the air becomes crisp, and families begin to make plans for Thanksgiving.

Today we wanted to ask you, our wonderful patients, "How are you spending your time this fall?" Our team would love to hear about your favorite places for eating, shopping, and entertainment within the community. We are interested in learning about what makes your community “yours.”

Feel free to post your responses on our Facebook page, or give us a call!

A few Halloween safety tips

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of October’s sweet and spooky holiday, Halloween, Dr. Roth & team would like to remind all of our patients to be safe while celebrating with friends and family. The American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, has provided trick-or-treaters with some tips for a ghoulishly good time.

A few Halloween safety guidelines:
• Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
• Carry a flashlight
• Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
• Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
• Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in

Many treats can cause havoc for trick-or-treaters who are going through orthodontic treatment. If you happen to damage your braces, please give our doctors and staff a call immediately. Typically, small problems can be solved over the phone.

A Great Braces Friendly Halloween Recipe

Our team know how tempting this time of the year can be on our sweet tooth. With all of the caramel, candy corn, and lollipops that are often passed around to trick-or-treaters, we realize that it can sometimes be hard to find hard, chewy, sticky, and crunchy candy alternatives.

However, there is good news! Today, we would like to share a great braces-friendly Halloween recipe with all of our patients, courtesy of the American Association of Orthodontics, or AAO, and “The Braces Cookbook” by Pamela Waterman. This Spider Bites recipe is delicious, and provided that you remember to brush and floss after indulging, this is a cookie that won’t bite back!

Spider Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. water
• 1 Tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa
• 1 Tsp. salt
• ½ Tsp. baking powder
• 1 package black rope licorice, cut into 1-inch pieces**
• 1 small tube of white (or color of choice) frosting
• Toothpicks

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine shortening, sugar, water, and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Add eggs into the mixture and blend. Slowly mix in flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder using low-medium speed. Drop tablespoon helpings of mixture onto ungreased cookie sheets and roll each helping into a ball.

Bake 9 minutes at 375 degrees. The batch should produce around three dozen cookies.

Let cookies cool for about 10 minutes. Then using a toothpick, create four small holes in either side of the cookie. Still using the toothpick, push one end of a piece of the cut licorice into each hole, creating the “legs” of the spider. Once all eight pieces are in place, create eyes or decorate at will using the white frosting. Then eat and enjoy!

**Licorice can sometimes stick to braces; parents should monitor

October Marks the National Orthodontic Health Month!

October symbolizes the transition into the Fall season and of course, Halloween! For our team at Dr. Roth's office, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), and orthodontic patients around the country, October also marks the National Orthodontic Health Month. This month is a great time to remind patients of the importance of strong oral hygiene and a braces-friendly diet, especially since many of the sticky and sweet Halloween treats can be harmful to braces and other orthodontic appliances.

Candy remains a huge part of Halloween for tens of millions of American kids each year. The National Confectioners Association says 93 percent of children in the United States go trick-or-treating, and estimates candy sales will be higher this year than ever. Candy is not all bad in moderation, but can lead to big problems in excess! It can lead to tooth decay, broken or chipped teeth, and delayed orthodontic treatment time due to broken or loose appliances and braces. Get the facts about Halloween candy and orthodontics by asking us! You can also learn more on the AAO’s National Orthodontic Health Month website. We also appreciate your help in spreading the word!

Office News and Updates from Dr. Roth

In an effort to stay current with the latest trends in Orthodontics, I attended a course on the latest advances in Invisalign treatment, last week. Invisalign has been a wonderful alternative to braces that are placed on each tooth. As the use of Invisalign has become more widespread, they are constantly refining and improving their technology so that more and more cases can now be treated successfully and predictably with Invisalign. While not all cases are appropriate for Invisalign treatment, why not call us for a complimentary examination to see if you teeth can be improved with Invisalign.

As our patients head back to school, so does the fall athletic schedule get back to its usual frenzy. PLEASE don't forget to wear your mouth guards for all contact sports. Contact sports include: football, wrestling, soccer, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, just to name a few. Our patients are welcome to call or stop by for their mouth guards, which are included in their treatment fee.

-From Dr. Michael Roth

Enter our "Lost Dog" Contest

We want to congratulate the four winners of our "Bird Brains" waiting room contest: Eleanor J, Zhanay B, Noah H, and Harry D. Each won a $15.00 iTunes gift card! Congratulations to the winners, and thank you everyone for participating!

Have you heard about our newest contest? It's called "Lost Dog", and it is all about connecting some adorable puppies (like this little guy below) with their moms. Learn more on your next visit to our office, and GOOD LUCK!

Sarah's Big Day

Sarah just got her braces off after wearing them for over a year and a half. Listen as she describes her journey with orthodontic treatment with Dr. Roth and Team, then visit our web site to learn more about our Jenkintown, PA orthodontic office, and how orthodontics can benefit you!

Ask Us: Am I too old for braces?

Who’s afraid of “metal mouth” and the appearance of braces? Not adults, apparently. Recently, our staff read a fascinating statistic: the number of adults getting braces has actually climbed 24 percent since 1996! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great. In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned and sparkling teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Dr. Michael Roth can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, we would love to have you visit for a consultation. Please give us a call to set one up!

The importance of retainers, from Dr. Roth & Team

If you recently completed treatment at our office, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Roth will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by our team is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!

Tackling sports injuries with Dr. Roth & Team

Let’s face it: sports-related injuries are common among children, let alone teens with braces. In a recent survey, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, discovered that 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports. But 67 percent admitted that their child doesn’t wear a mouth guard when participating in organized sports such as football, basketball, baseball and soccer. That’s why we are helping spread the word that many facial sports injuries can be prevented simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field this spring. Please remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements Dr. Roth is trying to achieve.

Give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at our office!

Stamp My Passport Contest Winners!

Congratulations to our Waiting Room Quiz- "Stamp My Passport" winners Liza B. and Colton D. Both won $25 gift cards to Target. Our two winners were chosen randomly from everyone who answered correctly. Next month, we will be picking four winners, and all patients are invited to enter! Stay tuned here on our blog or our Facebook page for the latest news, contests and events from Dr. Roth & Team of Jenkintown, PA!

Adianna's New Smile - The End Result of All That Hard Work!

When you first start your treatment at our office, we will tell you how important it is to care for your braces, keep to strict oral hygiene habits, and avoid certain foods. Following these guidelines will insure you finish treatment on time, and with a great end result, just like Adrianna in this video! Adrianna wore her braces for just over a year and a half, was a very compliant patient, and have a beautiful result!

Age 7 is the magic number for an orthodontic check-up

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Dr. Roth for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Roth to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

A Few Words on Braces Unfriendly Foods from Dr. Roth & Team

It may seem crazy, but there are so many rumors out there about what’s good for your teeth, what’s bad for your teeth, what will make your teeth crooked, what will discolor your teeth, and so on. We wanted to help set the record straight this summer with a few tips on foods to avoid with braces!

For example, sugary foods and drinks can cause damage with braces if brushing is not regular. For our Invisalign patients, drinking sweet drinks with their aligners in place can cause the rate of decay to rapidly increase because the sugary liquids remain in contact with teeth for a longer period of time while in the aligners.

Similarly, anything hard, sticky, or chewy can damage braces and can extend the length of time in treatment. Chewing gum that is marked "free-dent" or "stick-free" can still damage the braces or the wires that help move the teeth.

If you ever have questions about what foods you should avoid while in orthodontic treatment, give us a call!

Amanda Sees Her New Smile Without Braces for the First Time

Watch as Amanda sees her smile without braces for the very first time. She put in a lot of hard work to get this far, and the results have finally paid off! Orthodontic treatment can be effective for patients young and old alike, and we love to see the joy on our patients' faces when they see the end result!

Maggie's New Smile

While in orthodontic treatment, there are foods you can and cannot eat. Chewing gum, for example, is a big no-no. It can get stuck between your brackets and even damage or break them. So when we interviewed Maggie for her Braces-Off video, she explained her excitement with being able to finally chew her favorite gum once again!

Guess the Logo Contest

You may have noticed on your visits to Dr. Roth's office that we have a bulletin board featuring a rotating contest. Right now, we are holding a "Guess the Logo" contest that you can find the details of on the bulletin board. Entry forms are available in the waiting room, and patients must guess the company behind the logo to compete for a $25 gift certificate to Target! Do you have what it takes? Fill out your answers on your next visit!

Have a happy Fourth of July, and a relaxing weekend!

Lizzy's New Smile

Liz got her braces off recently here, and she agreed for us to interview her and film her reaction at seeing herself for the first time without braces. As she explains in the video, getting braces is not bad at all! We even gave her a little goodie bag of all the sweets that she couldn't eat while wearing braces. Congratulations Lizzy on your new smile!

Smile--June is National Smile Month!

It's June already! Where does the time go?

Dr. Roth and team are excited to tell you June marks National Smile Month, a great time to remind our patients to brush, floss, practice good nutrition at home (and over the summer) to avoid cavities and gum disease, among other dental health issues.

After all, there's more and more evidence that suggests folks with gum disease are more at risk for serious health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

Here are a few easy steps you can improve your oral health at home:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth and braces
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during orthodontic treatment.
* Visit your general dentist regularly (usually every six months apart).

If you have questions about any of the tips here, we encourage you to give us a call!

Ask Dr. Roth: Are straight teeth that important?

Some people wonder why Jenkintown orthodontist Dr. Michael Roth and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Roth Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean! Modern orthodontics provides you and your family with a wide range of choices for your advanced dental care. Dr. Roth chooses the treatments and products that he knows will correct your smile with the greatest chance of success.

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a complimentary consultation. Dr. Roth can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.

Enjoy the weekend!

Meet Our Orthodontist

Dr. Roth received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University and went to dental school at Georgetown University. Continuing his education, he came to Philadelphia in 1980 to do a General Practice Residency and continued to practice general dentistry, until he completed his three year orthodontic residency in 1986. He has practiced orthodontics in Jenkintown since then.

As an active member of the teaching staff at Albert Einstein Medical Center’s Department of Dental Medicine, Dr. Roth teaches orthodontic practice and theory to graduate orthodontic residents. Additionally, he has a teaching appointment at Abington Hospital’s Dental Department. Through his experience in general dentistry, teaching orthodontics, and his love of continuing education, he is able to offer his patients the most modern up-to-date approach to their care.

Dr. Roth currently serves as Membership Chair of the Montgomery Bucks Dental Association, where he welcomes new member dentists to the region. Dr. Roth also is a member of the executive board of the Greater Philadelphia Society of Orthodontists.

When not in the office, Dr. Roth spends time improving his professional skills through his lifelong commitment to continuing education. He also enjoys: travel, golf, and cooking. Dr. Roth and his wife, Terry, have two grown children, Ben and Kaki.